Small Time Investing for Pinoys

A farm hand named, Pepe, who can't hear and talk, but is a good worker.

Most Pinoys have a penchant for small time investment. We like to earn and see our money grow. Most recently I had a change in plans.

Investment with BPI UITF 

I went to the bank to withdraw my UITF investment. I had an error in judgement and I needed more funds for the farm. The bank manager told me that I will lose P1, 200. Can I take it? I stared at her in disbelief! I am an old warrior and losses of this amount won't affect me. It may sting a little, but it won't push me down the edge!

I soon realized that unless you put hundreds of thousands in money market placements, you're not bound to earn much, nor likely to lose much either. You need to make leaps and bounds and not just waddle along to make a difference. I may tinker with it again in the near future to toy around with the numbers. Meantime, it is just brick and mortar activities for me.

Decisions on Buying Farm Equipment

I was faced with the dilemma of whether to buy an additional farm equipment or just rent. I had a pump and a tilling machine repaired and observed its performance during this planting season. My verdict?  Unless, you have a farm hand who is adept in engine repair, you're bound to lose money for repairs over the long haul. Your movement will be limited by the people under your employ.

In mathematical terms, knowing your parameters and the constraints that you are faced with, can help simplify in the decision making to its core. It pays to have a little learning to do the small things, like farming. Hence, my decision is just to lease; I do away with constant repairs, and it gives me less headache.


TIPS FOR SMALL TIME INVESTORS IN THE PHILIPPINES


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Onli in da Pilipins: A Writer's Journal
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PHILIPPINE RURAL LIFE: AN OLD WOMAN IN THE BARRIO

Philippine Rural Life: An Old Woman in the Barrio

I always see her waving at me whenever I was in the farm. She was an old woman who had grown older than her 70 years. She sells several kilos of big head carp, caught at the nearby Laguna de Bay  by her husband.

I am aware that a two kg of fish costing P25 per kilo, would be enough to feed five farmhands for lunch. However, she knew that I seldom eat this specie of fish for health reason. It had too much fat, and it will drive my blood pressure soaring in no time. Nonetheless, I always buy whenever I see her. It made her happy that I buy half of what she carry in that basket ---all the time!

The last time I was there, she decided to back-ride in the motorbike that I was driving. I was reluctant at first, since she looked frail and sickly. But she insisted, and she can save a few pesos by back-riding with me. While coasting along the barrio road, I heard something drop. It was a coin, and she must have dropped it.

I suddenly felt the bike skid to the left, and her falling on the pavement. It was planting season, and many farmers were milling around. They saw her jumped off my bike at that moment. When I asked her why she did that, she showed me the P10 peso coin that she held tightly in her hand.


Photo credit:  Pixabay.com

#Human_Interest
#Farm
#Old_woman


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RUSTIC LIFE IN THE FARM AT PILA, LAGUNA

The little boy and his friend accompanying his father in tilling the field

Farm work is hard work. However, children see it differently. They see the work as play where they can hop from one field to another and follow their fathers with their big buri hats. Tilling includes --- the "kuliglig" or tilling; "pagong" or  harrowing, and; leveling which is the last stage prior to planting.

The seedbed, which is readied for transplanting in two weeks

The seedbed or "dapogan" where the RC12 seed variety bought from the Department of Agriculture (DA), were initially planted in a rectangular bed before it is transplanted in the field. This usually takes from 15 to 20 days after soaking the palay. Due to the high cost of diesel fuel for the pumps, farmers till, harrow, and level the field a week before transplanting. 

I told the farm hand that not all of the seeds sprouted. I also noticed that the growth was uneven. This is not a good thing and I may need to add chemical fertilizer (urea) to even out the growth. The palay seed was given by the DA at 50 percent discount to farmers in Pila. The other 50 percent was shouldered by the local municipal government. In addition, 15 sacks of organic fertilizer were given free of charge.

Unyok, the friendly and reliable mechanic

It is often said that no farmer can survive without a trusted and reliable mechanic. Whether we like it or not, problems  crop up with the equipment that we use. On our farm, we are ever grateful that we have Unyok (Filipino slang for Junior) to help us out when problems arise. As a token of his kindness, we give him "saging saba" (bananas) every now and then. I promise to give him a sack of rice after the harvest.

Bessie, the sweet cake vendor

I have known this friendly lady as far back as I can remember. Whenever there is work in the farm, she never fails to show up to sell us local "kakanin" or sweet bread like bibingka, suman, puto, palitaw, and other local cakes that she manages to cook that day. Whenever she sees me, she is often sure that I will be buying her stuff to feed the farm folks like the little tot behind, whom we fondly call, Bunso.

Farm caretaker and son pumping water in the field

The farm at Pila, Laguna is not irrigated. Hence, water is pumped by the use of Yanmar pumps like the one above. This equipment was bought 2nd hand, about 10 years ago and it still works perfectly today. However, we had a major overhaul which costs me a few bucks before we were able to use it again. The little boy accompanies his father, after attending school. The farm is his playground; so, he has a vast area to play around with friends.

#FARMING

#PILA_LAGUNA

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The Women of Pila, Laguna

Women Vendors in Pila,Laguna

The Women of Farmfolks

Pila, Laguna is a small town of different types of women from various region in the Philippines.

My long time sidekick is a 70 year old Ilocana, fondly called Manang Belen by everybody. She is a comic and a hard worker, as Ilocanos are known for.

The 70 year old sidekick, dancing the macarena

If there is a war, you could not think of a better ally than this irrepressible woman. In an armed combat, this spunky old woman, would come prepared in a full battle gear of bolo and balisong --- ready to stand by your side. You can say, that she is Gabriella Silang come to life.

Gabriela Silang of the South,Manang Belen

When I said that I wanted to take her photo, she jumped out of her chair and danced the macarena --- to everybody's consternation! What a comic! She laughed out loud, and said, that she can still do a mean cha-cha and beat everyone!

Maple, is a young mother of 19, from Dumaguete, and is about to give birth to another child in four months time. Her mother, Wilma, is the wife of the family caretaker, Willy. She is a refreshing present whenever I am around.

Maple, 19 year old mother

At the Patio Sophia of the town proper, are several women who sells fish in tamarind, and; shrimps, taro leaves, and dulong in coconut milk. You can buy these viands from  P10 to P50. Salted eggs are sold cheap at P10 a piece.

What an exhilarating trip to the south --- as always!


#pila_laguna
#farming

Other article by the author:

The Women of Pila Laguna
Rustic Life of a Filipino Farmer
Philippine Rice Farmers of Pila Laguna

Onli in da Pilipins: A Writer's Journal
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DRAGON FRUIT FROM TARLAC, PHILIPPINES





Dragon fruit is one of those exotic fruits that you can find in the supermarkets of Metro Manila. This is a  spiky and reddish fruit that you can buy at P200 a kg when it is in season.

It doesn't taste unusual. But for somebody who is into juice drinks and fruit slush, it is a favorite addition to the local fruits that one can taste. I am one of those avid fanatics that has a penchant for different fruits.

A few months ago, I got the chance to visit my relatives in Pangasinan to settle important matters. On the way back to Manila, I visited a dragon fruit farm in Tarlac, a nearby province.

I know that I have to go farther north, in Ilocos Norte, to see the bigger plantations. Since I didn't have that much time, I dropped by a much smaller farm in Tarlac.







The farm was about three hectares where dragon fruits were planted at 1.5 meters apart. As it was no longer the fruiting season, I was not able to buy  fruits --- only the plant cuttings at P30 each.

I knew that it was double the price than in other farms, but I got them just the same so I can bring them to Manila for replanting.

 The caretaker and his wife were amiable and more than willing to show the site to me. I noticed that the plants were made to stand in cemented stakes and roped together. Only the upper portion were made to spread outwards like an umbrella.

To make full use of the land, eggplants were planted in between. The caretakers earn from the eggplants while waiting for the fruits to ripen.  I was told that the harvest occurs from July to October.

Noticeably, there were some branches that were burned nearby. When asked, the farmers said that burning was done if plant diseases like yellowing occurs. Burning prevents the disease from spreading to other plants.

I look forward to having this fruit again come July, which is the start of the harvest season. This runs up to October where the price of the fruit can go down from P150 to P100 a kg. depending on the variety.

They say that dragon fruit has health benefits and is good for the body. Regardless, I like mixing it with kiwi fruit, for a cool sweet drink of fruit slush as an early morning drink.


#dragon-fruit

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Rustic Life of a Filipino Farmer

Newly planted Palay

The onset of the rainy months triggers the planting season in the Philippines by farmers in the  Region Four of Laguna. The season is a welcome respite for farmers whose farms are not irrigated, since the rains would mean enough water in the fields until harvest time.

However, this season would also mean more pest and rats on the fields. As a consequence, farmers don't usually put in that much inputs in the form of fertilizers, labor and pesticides. It has been experienced several times that the yield during the rainy months is lower that those in summer months.

Caretakers-farmers of the farm, Willy and Zaldy

There are times too that the fields may be submerged in floodwaters with farmers losing their investments in the process. Hence, we say that farming is akin to gambling, since you cannot tell with certainty on what will happen in the future.

The planting technique during the rainy months is different from that in the summer. Farmers cannot plant sweet smelling rice like Bordagol, that would attract rats. Rice varieties should also be tolerant of flood waters and be harvestable in 3 1/2 months. The reason behind it is, so you can harvest right away and not exposed the field to further risk.

Caretaker's wife,  Wilma and child,  keep watch of the place

Planting should be in coordination with your neighbors, as those who plant first or last,  may experience the onslaught of rats, pests, and Maya birds that could lead to insurmountable losses. Planting is a scary endeavor if you do not plan ahead, since you don't know how mother nature will play it out in the next few months.

I am doing a study of farm techniques, financing, and support from the local government. It will be submitted to HubPages, a portal where I submit my more serious work on the Philippine economy and politics. Meanwhile, I have collated pictures that will go with my articles and among them are posted on this article.

Caretaker's Panabong lined the pathway

Roadside eatery of the town where choices of viands abound

Dining area of roadside eatery, very informal with local motif

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